Austin F. answered • 10/22/24
PhD in music composition and technology
Rocksteady and ska both (1) use the same core instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums, horns, and keyboard), with some key differences in terms of how specifically brass sections are used. The cultural and social contexts of both genres were tied to Jamaica's working class and (2) reflected similar social, political, and cultural issues. However, ska is thematically a bit more optimistic and tied to national pride, while rocksteady reflected more personal and melancholic themes of love and social struggles as optimism waned. They (3) originated around the same time in the late 50s and early 60s and had a significant impact on reggae.
